Non-immigrant Visas
General Information
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Nonimmigrant visa applications are accepted from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Sunday through Wednesday. Appointments are necessary and administrative processing can delay visa issuance in some cases for several months. All applicants should present a valid passport, completed application form, two recent photographs, and pay the $131 processing fee. This fee, payable in U.S. dollars, is not refundable, even if the visa application is refused. If the visa is issued, applicants from some countries may be charged a reciprocity visa fee according to reciprocal fees between the U.S. and other countries. At present, Syrians are not subject to any reciprocity fee. Interviews take place from 7:45AM to 10:00AM except on Thursdays.
In addition to the fees, photos, and passport, applicants should bring any documents they believe will demonstrate economic, family, or other reasons to return to their home countries following a temporary visit to the United States.
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS:
If one needs to make an appointment in an emergency situation, such as for a family or medical emergency or other immediate travel need, the applicant should call the Consular Section to schedule an appointment immediately. It is our policy to give applicants next day visa appointments.
For additional information and application forms please check the following links:
How to apply for a Visa?
U.S. Immigration Law presumes that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa is not an intending immigrant. The burden of proof rests with the applicants to establish that they have a permanent residence abroad to which they fully intend to return after a temporary visit to the United States during which they will abide by their nonimmigrant status.
The U.S. Embassy interviews all persons applying to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa. An appointment is necessary to apply for a nonimmigrant visa.
The nonimmigrant (Temporary Stay) visa section accepts applications from Sunday to Wednesday from 11:00AM to 1:00PM and schedules interviews from Sunday to Wednesday from 7:45AM to 10:00AM.
Required documents:
- Passport valid for a minimum of six months
- One recent photo for Nonimmigrant visa application
- $131 US dollars (Visa fees are non refundable)
- Visa application duly completed and signed. You MUST complete your application (DS-156) online by clicking http://evisaforms.state.gov and then by printing it out.
Optional documents when applicable:
- Recent job letter stating length of service
- Latest earning statement
- Leave authorization
- Proof of student status and school attendance for students
- Business registration records, tax returns for business owners
- Invitation letter from the inviting party in the United States plus proof of their status in America.
- Spouse’s and dependents’ passports if possible
- Deeds/ownership titles of properties etc.
- Previous passport(s)
- Bank documents
Note: Presentation of the above documents alone does not warrant a visa issuance
NIV Forms
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DS-156 Form REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS.
DS-158 Form REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR F, J, & M VISAS.
COMING SOON!!!
The U.S. Embassy in Damascus will soon be offering a faster, more convenient way to schedule appointments for non-immigrant visas. On October 19, 2009, a new link to an online appointment system will appear on this site. Once this new system is in place it will be possible to schedule an appointment for a visitor visa interview from anyplace where there is an Internet connection.